Hundreds of workers at garment factories demonstrated in front of the Ministry of Labour yesterday, as talks between factory officials and employee representatives remained deadlocked.

Collective Union of Movement of Workers president Pav Sina, who has been helping unaffiliated staff at Akeentex Pte Ltd in Phnom Penh to negotiate their demands, said yesterday that about 500 employees demonstrated outside the ministry while he attended the meeting inside.

“The meeting did not resolve anything,” Sina said yesterday.

“We are going to march to the National Assembly tomorrow if an agreement is not reached today.”

Employees at both of Akeentex’s branches in the capital walked off the job last week with nine demands, including three months’ salary for workers on maternity leave, an end to forced overtime and the right to unionise freely.

Sina said deals struck by Akeentex-affiliated unions were intended to create the illusion of a settlement.

Akeentex officials could not be reached yesterday.